Poverty Myths

In the United States today, we are surrounded by poverty myths: misconceptions about poverty and people living in poverty that prevent real progress in the fight to end poverty. Whether it is that poor people don’t want to work, or that poor people use drugs – or even just the idea that poverty is a problem other people deal with and that I will never be poor – so many of our ideas about poverty fly in the face of countless studies and reports done on the subject.

But how can we overcome poverty if we don’t clearly understand what it is?

The poverty myths project uses census data and official definitions of poverty to expose the myths for the untruths they really are. The report focuses on four of the most commonly held myths about poverty and gives everyone the information they need to push back against them.

Poverty isn’t $24,300 a year for a family of four. Poverty isn’t 14.5% of Americans. Poverty is the constant stress of not having enough to eat, of not knowing where you’re going to sleep tonight, of knowing you are one emergency away from sleeping on the streets.

Poverty Myth: Poor People Don’t Want to Work

This is one of the most common poverty myths – yet almost 60% of adults living in poverty who are able to work do so. If we are serious about tackling poverty, we have to recognize that the issue is not one of willingness to work, but of a lack of well-paying jobs.

Poverty Myth: The United States Doesn’t Have Much Poverty

For a country that sees itself as the “richest nation in the world” this is one of the most intransigent poverty myths. The truth is the United States regularly ranks near the bottom on rankings of developed countries for both adult and child poverty. When it comes to inequality the situation is even worse.

Poverty Myth: Drug Use is Higher in Poor Communities

This poverty myth has been the driving force between so many decisions made by law enforcement in the war on drugs. And yet the truth is that people in poverty do not use drugs at a higher rate than the rest of society. On the contrary: many studies have shown that higher income correlates to more drug use.

Poverty Myth: Poverty Doesn’t Concern Me – I Will Never be Poor

Perhaps it would not be so easy to turn a blind eye to the difficult lives of so many in our communities if we felt more clearly that poverty is personal. While officially 13% of Americans live in poverty – 40% will experience at least one year of poverty in their lifetimes.

Above all, we must never forget that poverty is people. As ATD Fourth World founder Joseph Wresinski said, “People created poverty and only people can destroy it.”

Download the Poverty Myths Report

By submitting the form below, you agree to receive monthly newsletters from ATD Fourth World USA. You can unsubscribe at any time.